NFL mock draft: Finding a match for 5 Alabama stars
By John Buhler
Bryce Young is the likeliest candidate to be coming off the board first this spring
In all likelihood, four quarterbacks will be drafted in the first round. However, there are only two who deserve going No. 1 overall: Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Alabama’s Bryce Young. While Kentucky’s Will Levis could get overdrafted into the top 10, he is not going any higher than the Indianapolis Colts at No. 4. Florida’s Anthony Richardson has a decent shot of cracking the top 31.
Young may be undersized, which probably means he will not go to the Colts or Frank Reich’s Carolina Panthers inside of the top 10. However, there are a handful of teams who will overlook his short stature and see what college football fans know all too well: The dude can ball! Young not only won the Heisman Trophy in 2021, but largely carried an underwhelming offense last season.
Simply put, Young is everything you would be looking for in a franchise quarterback beyond height.
. AFC. South. Houston Texans. 10. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. player
Houston Texans could trade up from No. 2, but what other choice do they have?!
If we are going to rule out the Colts and Panthers from drafting Young for stature reasons, then the likeliest team to pick him would have to be the Houston Texans. Dysfunctional as all hell, Houston finally made a smart decision by hiring one of their former star players in up-and-coming head coach DeMeco Ryans. He too is an Alabama alum like Young. It is a match made in Houston.
In truth, the Texans are going to have to move up from No. 2 in a deal with the Bears to get Young. Indianapolis may like a taller quarterback, but you do not want to take a chance on that. Plus, what happens if a team like the Las Vegas Raiders give up a fortune to be No. 1? Young would thrive playing for the Silver and Black as well. Therefore, they must prioritize getting Young at all costs.
Houston has the Cleveland Browns’ pick at No. 12 to use as trade capital to move up to No. 1.
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